Thomas Beddoes

Thomas Beddoes (1760-1808) was an English physician and scientist known for his work in chemistry and medical practice. He is particularly remembered for his research on gases, including the medical use of nitrous oxide (laughing gas), which he believed could alleviate pain and treat various ailments. Beddoes founded the Pneumatic Institution in Bristol, where he conducted experiments on gas therapies. His work laid early foundations for anesthetics and contributed to the understanding of gases in medicine. He was also linked to the Romantic literary movement through his connections with poets like Samuel Taylor Coleridge.